Related Links

Catalina Foothills coach Jeff Scurran took the first step in rebuilding the Falcons Thursday night, although it didn’t come without some drama.

Foothills defeated Desert View 34-28 in overtime in the teams’ season openers at Sunnyside High School.

Led by running back Ty Cruz, the Falcons (1-0) captured their first win since 2011. Cruz rushed for 94 yards on 16 carries and scored a touchdown.

It was a big one: Cruz’s 10-yard run in overtime was the difference in the game.

Still, “I had a bad game,” Cruz said. “But what makes coach Scurran great is that he believes in us, even though I was struggling.”

Foothills freshman Rhett Rodriguez, the son of UA coach Rich Rodriguez, threw for 148 yards and two touchdowns in his first high school game. The quarterback’s 60-yard scoring strike in the third quarter gave the Falcons a temporary lead.

Desert View running back Jarratt White had a record-breaking day in a losing effort. The senior rushed for a school-record 305 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns. White was limited to just 77 yards in the second half.

“I’ve never coached a team that was so nervous,” Scurran said. “But all I needed was to watch these kids. They’re great, and maybe they can see that this hard work does pay off."

Copyright 2015 Arizona Daily Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.